From Kant to Brentano

Liliana Albertazzi

pp. 423-464

in: Liliana Albertazzi, Roberto Poli (eds), The school of Franz Brentano, The Hague, Nijhoff, 1996

Abstract

In a book devoted to the school of Brentano, an essay bearing the above title may arouse perplexity, if not irritation, among the majority of orthodox Brentanians. We well know that Brentano was a declared anti-Kantian (kein Zurück zu Kant!)¹ and we are fully aware of the scholasticism that derived from his position among most of his closest followers — particularly those who edited his works — and in the ensuing literature.² Brentano's reception in Italy, however, seems to have been less unequivocal on the matter. While he was in Florence, Calò and Rossi conducted a close analysis of the theory of thetic judgment and emphasised its affinities with Kantian doctrine.³ And even within Brentano's school itself, his disciples and annotators sometimes stressed the "curious' resemblance between some of his theses and Kant's.⁴

Cited authors

Brentano Franz

Kant Immanuel